Coworker swore by cutting brake housing with flush cutters

My guy Dave at the shop kept saying just use flush cutters on brake housing, no need for a proper cable cutter. I told him he was nuts, that it would fray everything. After 8 months of watching him do it clean every time, I finally tried it on a Campagnolo setup. Damn if it didn't work perfect, no fraying at all. Been doing it that way for 3 weeks now and it saves me a minute per cable. Anyone else ditch their Park cable cutter for something simpler?

2 comments

2 Comments

blair_davis5022d agoMost Upvoted

Snapped a Park cable cutter on my second job because I was trying to cut housing at a slight angle. Switched to a $12 flush cutter from the hardware store and it's been two years without a single frayed end. Honestly makes me wonder why bike shops push those expensive tools when a basic flush cut does the same thing.

carter.julia19d ago

Totally agree @blair_davis50, but I think people get hung up on the brand name without really thinking about the mechanics. The Park cutters have that big jaw that's built for brute force, but for cable housing you don't need that, you just need a clean shear cut. It's like using a sledgehammer on a finishing nail. A cheap flush cutter with a tiny tip actually works better because it lets you get right up against the cable stop without any bending or twisting that causes the fraying.